Wildlife Department finalized proposals to increase punishments

Lahore: In order to discourage illegal hunting, Punjab Wildlife Department has finalized proposals to increase punishments and penalties through amendment in Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Act 2007. Proposals have been made in sections 21 and 38. After final approval of the recommendations by Chief Minister Punjab, these would be sent to Punjab Assembly for legislation.

This was disclosed by Director General Wildlife Punjab Khalid Ayaz Khan while presiding over a meeting regarding ongoing campaign against illegal hunters in his office, here today. All field officers were also present in the meeting.

He said that amendment will be made and whosoever contravenes or attempts to contravene under sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, and 28 i.e. hunts any protected animal, use of hawks for hawking or dogs for coursing the game animals except under license issued for the purpose under the Act, any wild animal, which is found dead or dying or which has been killed or caught, possession of any wild animal unless he be in possession of a certificate of lawful possession, no person allowed to receive wild animal or bird by gift or purchase without a valid certificate of lawful possession, no person shall import or attempt import of wildlife, wild animal or bird to Punjab or outside Pakistan, no person  shall as a profession, trade or business buy, sell or otherwise deal in wild animals unless he is in possession of a valid license, hunting in private game reserve or park with shooting license, every person  in possession of any wild animal shall produce certificate of lawful possession on demand made by any authorized government officer will be awarded with three years’ imprisonment which can be extended up to five years and minimum penalty of 50 thousand rupees and maximum one lakh rupees or both including forfeiture of license with suspension of  license or permit.

Whereas under sections 16, 16-A, 17, 18, and 18-A, minimum punishment will be three years and maximum seven years, penalty will be one lakh to two lakh or both and forfeiture of weapon, vehicle, other essentials which were used during illegal hunting.

On the payment of compensation, such sum of money the suspected person if in custody, shall be discharged and the property, if any, seized shall be released and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property. He said that if the price of animal not mentioned or fixed in government list than a sum of rupees 20 thousand per animal will be received from the defaulter. In case of second instance, penalty will be doubled and in case of third violation, the said officer will not be allowed to receive compensation.

DG Wildlife hoped that enhanced punishments and penalties would bring a clear change and stoppage of illegal hunting could be ensured. He stressed the field officers to keep a vigilant eye on illegal hunters of their concerned areas and don’t take any pressure of influential ones and contact him immediately, in case of any problem.